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Lawmakers back pot 'sanctuary,' single-payer bills

The Associated Press
Published 12:19 a.m. PT June 2, 2017

State Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, right, is congratulated by Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon after his single-payer health care plan was approved by the Senate on Thursday.(Photo: AP PHOTO)

SACRAMENTO - California lawmakers voted to keep state and local police from helping enforce federal anti-marijuana laws that conflict with state law.

The state Assembly voted Thursday to shield Californians complying with state cannabis regulations like those legally operating a shop selling pot from being detained, reported or arrested by state or local police.

The bill by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer would prohibit state resources from being used for such purposes.

It has been compared to the so-called "sanctuary state" bill advancing through the Legislature that would prohibit police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.

The Los Angeles Democrat's bill comes amid uncertainty surrounding how President Donald Trump's administration will deal with states that have legalized marijuana.

The measure was among hundreds of bills approved by the Legislature this week ahead of a Friday deadline for bills to pass out of the chamber where they originated.

Here's a look at what else lawmakers did Thursday:

Single-payer health care

The California Senate voted Thursday to advance a longshot single-payer health care plan that would replace insurance companies with government-funded health care for everyone in the state.

The move came even as proponents acknowledged they don't know how to pay its huge $400 billion price tag.

The measure would have died if it failed to clear the Senate this week. Democrats said they wanted to keep it alive as the Assembly tries to work out a massive overhaul of the state health care system.

"With President Trump's promise to abandon the Affordable Care Act as we know it, it leaves millions without access to care and California is once again tasked to lead," said Sen. Ricardo Lara, a Democrat from Bell Gardens who wrote the single-payer bill with Sen. Toni Atkins, a San Diego Democrat.

Critics, however, warned that the measure would require massive tax hikes and lead to long waits for health care.

Two analyses said the state would need to raise $400 billion a year. While much of it could come from redirecting existing state and federal spending on health care, the program would still require as much as $100 billion in new taxes.

Housing shortage

Both the Senate and the Assembly approved measures to speed housing creation by streamlining building regulations.

The authors of the bills say they need to pass a combination of measures to address the state's housing crisis. An estimated 1.5 million California families lack access to affordable housing. The state also has disproportionately high rates of homelessness.

SB35 removes some development restrictions in cities that fall behind on housing production goals. It passed 23-12 in the Senate. AB73 rewards cities for streamlining the approval of housing, particularly for developments near public transportation. It passed the Assembly 46-19.

The Senate also voted 30-9 to put a $3 billion bond for affordable housing on the ballot.

"We need a comprehensive solution to address the housing crisis," said Assemblyman David Chiu, a San Francisco Democrat who authored AB73.

Border wall

The state Senate approved a measure that would prohibit the state from contracting with companies that bid to build President Donald Trump's proposed border wall. Senators voted 23-16 Thursday to send the bill to the Assembly.

The state shouldn't do business with companies that work on the project, which is harmful to immigrant families and the environment, said Sen. Ricardo Lara, a Democrat from Bell Gardens.

Sen. Jeff Stone said the bill would "promote political discrimination." The state shouldn't blacklist companies bidding on a lucrative contract, the Temecula Republican said.

The state Assembly also approved measures to train defense attorneys on immigration law and protect college students from federal immigration officials.

Teacher tenure

California teachers may get an additional year to prove they deserve permanent status under a bill passed by the Assembly.

The bill passed 59-3 Thursday with bipartisan support. All the lawmakers who voted against the bill and most who abstained are Democrats.

Assemblywoman Shirley Weber's bill would give public school teachers three years to earn a permanent status designation known as tenure. The San Diego Democrat says the current two-year process is too short and not flexible enough.

Democratic Assemblyman Tony Thurmond of Richmond didn't vote on the bill and said it doesn't address the right problems in schools.

The measure is among hundreds of bills approved by the Legislature this week ahead of a Friday deadline to pass out of the chamber where they originated.